National Republican., 1887-09-20
FAVORED COAST RESORTS.
Something Concerning Asbury Park
and Ocean Grove,


and Ocean Grove,
EDITOR NATIONAL REPUBLICAN The
casual observer does not comprehend at
first glace the reason that Asbury Park and
Ocean Grove do not do business under one
name and charter. The two places share
the one railway station on the inland side
OF their adjoining edges, and their ocean
fronts and board walks, or esplanades, lie
in one continuous line along the Atlantic
sands. The only way to make out cause
for this seeming unnecessary division OF
entirety and multiplication OF terms OF
nomenclature is to visit the places, look
them over, and talk with some OF the
founders and residents OF both.
There are false impressions abroad con-
cerning Aebury Park and Ocean Grove, the
Siamese twins of summer resorts, and their
unique points are not appreciated save by
their ever. extending clientele.
Ocean Grove was founded by a number OF
Methodist ministers and capitalist or two,
the former seeing in the location healthful
surrounding for camp meeting ground
and the latter probably seeing good In
vestment. The first building erected was
ing the summer OF 1870 and Is near Wesley
Lake, the body OF water that divides the
Grove from the Park. The public buildings
now owned by the association are the au-
dltorium, large structure open on the
sides; the tabernacle, asmaller bnilding, In
closed, and the young peoples temple, also
inclosed.
The tents Of the faithful we're probably
not the sumptuous canvas houses that are
now used here. The distinguishing feature
Of all this was the code OF municipal laws
which the pious brethren OF the association
drew up and had approved by the state
legislature for the government OF the Grove.
Prominent among these laws ia the prohibit
tion Of liquor selling that is in force, one
mile in each direction from IL, including
Asbury Park and the briny waters OF old
surety how easy and how lucrative It would
be for yacht to anchor of the shore with
a choice stock OF intoxicauts for the thirsty
to take small boats and 60 aboard het for
supplies. AS 1t Is, every knowing man
visiting here comes 'loaoed."
No dancing is allowed In Ocean Grove,
and no tobacco In any form is sold there.
do not stophere on that day. There can
be no arrivals nor departures otherwise
than on foot, for no horses nor vehicles are
permitted upon the streets. II you want
to drive out you muet 60 over to the Park
to hire a carriage, where you must also go
to buy milk and your Sunday morning
newspaper. II n man dies here on Sunday
he cannot be taken out until Monday, and
quiet Sabbath day is secured. These blue
laws do not obtain In the Park. Mr.. James
A. Bradley, the original proprietor, sold his
lots to people who built cottages for occu-
paDcy during the summer months.
The same progress went forward In the
Grove, and the thirty foot front lots were
not large enough, one each for single
IA., aw.1 I,.. IsxNz IL. lxnN
several lots line the wide streets and ave-
nues that open toward the murmuring sea.
The hotels In hsbury are larger than any In
the Grove, and there are no squares or tents
In the former place as there are In the lat
ter. The association controls the uses OF
the land by leaslng,it to would-be pur-
chaeers for term OF ninety-nine years.
with privilege Of renewal, instead OF SELL
ing outright. However, there are those
who believe It is only question of time
when these prohibitions will be de6ed, and
the cases taken into court, where II will be
shown that the legislators have no power
to give the arbitrary authority with which
they have clothed the association withal.
The association buildings are IN use
throughout the summer, various societies
hold their meetings here, and the Meth
odists hold q largely. attended revival aud
camp meeting here during the latter days
OF August. The most notable meeting OF
the year for results was the series OF young
peoples meetings held In the temple, last.
ing through sixty-three days, and that have
hut recently closed. They were under the
charge Of Mr.. G. II. Yatman, president of
the Y. NJ. G. A, of Newark, N. j., who
has proved himself most successful evan
gelist.
or the 1900 persons, or thereabout, who
at different times attended his meetings this
summer, some 500 professed conversion.
Two Of Princeton's students held meeting
In Asbury two Sabbaths ago. Mr.. Gregg,
an earnest young man, preached the SER
mon, and Mr.. Mailman conducted the
singing. They are members Of the senior
class OF Princeton, and are called the
Princeton evangelists.
The bathing at this portion of the coast
is highly satisfactory. There is fine surf,
lovely beach, and many bathers. No one
is allowed to go into the sea on Sunday after
s o'clock In the morning. The bathing
costumes displayed are much like those
seen at any other popular beach. Cards
with printed restrictions as to costume and
behavior are conspicuously posted on the
payilions. Bathers are exhorted to modesty
OF apparel and warned against assuming
'immodest attitudes" upon the beach. l
believe all striped materials are prohibited
being worn by bathers. Notwithstanding
all these well intentioned precautions, the
human form divine shows some OF it's
comeliest lines in figures seen here during
bathing hours. The men from the life saw
ing service corps, who sit In the sand at
each point OF entrance, ore moved to wrath
full expressions by the venturesome swim
mer who goes beyond the ropes. "No, we
don't have any drownings here but look at
that smart Aleck away out there; guess
he's got some women here and wants to
show off. Them's the fellows gives us
trouble"
It is indeed popular resort, and thou
sands Of people visit here in season, for
longer or shorter periods. NJ. p. N.
OCEAN GROVE, N. j., Sept. Is, 1887.